Fruit knife



0d. 3l, 1950 H. T. oRR ETAL FRUIT KNIFE Filed July 15, 1946 INVENTO R5 //elm fha/@Wma 17h' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 FRUIT KNIFE Helen Thompson Orr, Bayside, N. Y., and Lloyd Edwin Orr, Toledo, Ohio Application July 15, 1946, Serial No. 683,722

4 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to a fruit knife and more particularly to a fruit knife to be used in dissecting the segments of a grapefruit.

The present method of cutting the segments of a grapefruit is either with a straight single edge paring knife or with a knife with a special blade which knife is semi-circular and narrows to the point. The use of those knives makes the job 'diicult as the membrane surrounding the segments is thin and numerous and must be cut around on both sides. The old methods take a long time and do an unsatisfactory job.

In our device We are able to cut both sides of the membrane at the same time and go about the segment very rapidly and do a much faster and cleaner job.

The following objects are accomplished by our invention. First, we do the cutting in less than half of the time. Second, we have' a much cleaner cut. Third, we have no waste. Fourth, it is not possible to out ones self with our device. Fifth, it does not mangle or squash the segments and keeps the juice in the fruit. Sixth, it cuts the fruit in a circular movement and results in a more fascinating segment. Seventh, it does not out any rind but can cut around it without destroying the meat of the fruit or segments being cut.

One form of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a figure illustration of the device in use. Figure 2 is an end elevation. Figure 3 is a side elevation. Figure 4 is anend elevation of a modified form.

Reading on Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the knife consists of handle portion |II,'which is split in a fork shaped knife section II, the space between the knife section being I2. Reading on Figure 4, the knife has a handle I4 and two blades I5 and I6 and space section I'I. Reading again on Figures 1 to 3 we have neck portion I8 and membrane of grapefruit I3, inner surface of grapefruit I9 and segment of grapefruit 20. The blades have, at their ends opposite to the handle, a slight flare to a point as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In operation the knife is placed into grapefruit so that the membrane I3 is in the space opening I'2 or I 'I of the blade I I or blades I5 and I6 depending whether the one knife shown in Figures l to 3 or Figure 4 is used. When the knife is so placed it is worked along membrane I3 and inner edge I9 and again about membrane I3 until segment 20 is completely cut about and is loose so that it can be easily lifted out of place by a fork when one desires to use the fruit. Each of the other sections can be loosened in like'fashion.

The handle I0 or I4 may be made of wood or A steel or glass orv plastic or any material commonly used for knife handles.

Our device may be used for slicing potatoes, it may also be used for all citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, etc. In fact it has uses too numerous to mention here.

While we have illustrated our invention in different ways and using different materials and means, still we do not intend to limit ourselves to those particular means, designs, methods, materials, or uses, as it is apparent that other means, designs, methods, materials, or uses, may be employed for obtaining the same or other results Within the scope of any claim without departing from the scope or spirit of our invention.

We claim:

l. A fruit knife comprising, in combination, a handle, fork shaped blades, said forked shaped blades having a neck portion, said neck portion having a handle, said fork shaped blade having parallel cutting edges on one edge only, said forked shaped blades having an outward flare at the opposite ends to the handle of said .fork

shaped blades, said outer flare being only slightr and flaring outwardly from the parallel sides of said forked shaped blades, for the purpose of improving the cutting edges only substantially as described.

2. A knife for cutting grapefruit and the like, having a fork shaped blade, said `fork shaped blade having a shank end surrounded by a handle, said fork shaped blades being slightly spaced apart and having parallel cutting edges on one of said fork like edges, and said blades having a slight flare outwardly at the ends of said fork like blade the improvement being said slight flare only, substantially as described.

3. A knife, for cutting grapefruit and the like,

between said blades and a neck portion, said neck portion being contained in a handle, said blades REFERENCES CITE The following references are of record in th le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,226,797 Newman May 22, 1917 1,326,373 Rice Dec. 30, 1919 1,769,525 :Maness July l, 1930 10 2,051,680 Collens Aug 18, 1936 2,130,949 Collens Sept. 20, 1938 

